Morrison orders review amid visa fraud security fears

by dburdon

Daniel BurdonDaniel Burdon is APN Australian Regional Media's Canberra bureau reporter, covering federal parliament and politics. He was previously a rural and general news reporter at the Morning Bulletin in Rockhampton and worked in Alice Springs for the Centralian Advocate.

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison has ordered an urgent report on allegations of widespread visa fraud after reports Australia's national security could be compromised due to weaknesses in the system.

The reports included allegations that as many as nine in 10 skilled migrants' visas issued by the department may be fraudulent, with specific investigations into the problems hampered by a lack of resources.

Mr Morrison on Thursday responded with a statement which said the "alleged events" happened "under the previous government".

But he said he has now sought an "urgent report" on the issues revealed and would "consider what further action is then necessary".

Mr Morrison took to 3AW Radio to put his case, stressing that the issues raised in the Fairfax reports were "allegations", and the government needed to "determine their veracity".

He said despite the apparent lack of oversight of the skilled migrant visa system, the government had already increased field visits for 457 "integrity compliance" by about 20% since taking office.

"The reason we are doing that is to get more focus and more resource into the integrity of the immigration programme contrary to what was suggested in the Age report today," he said.

Mr Morrison said that any "requirement" to address integrity issues in his portfolio would not lessen the government's efforts on people smuggling.